May 28, 2015: How the FIFA Scandal Is Affecting Sponsors, What’s Planned for the World’s Largest Hotel, Tokyo Doesn’t Want to Pay for Olympic Stadium

1. HOW THE FIFA SCANDAL IS AFFECTING SPONSORS: Following federal indictments of 14 FIFA officials, big-time sponsors of the World Cup such as McDonald's, Adidas, and Budweiser are catching flak from the public and may be reconsidering their official involvement. Last year’s tournament in Brazil was the most talked-about event on Facebook and generated 41.5 million in advertising. Adweek: "This is an interesting scenario. Brands have found great ways to be involved in big events like the World Cup without actually being an official sponsor," said Jordan Bitterman, chief strategy officer at WPP's Mindshare. "This puts a lot of pressure on FIFA." http://bit.ly/1dWfTSE

2. WHAT’S PLANNED FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL: A 10,000-room hotel under construction in Mecca will become the world’s largest hotel by room count when it opens in 2017—at a cost of more than $3.5 billion. Huffington Post: “The mixed-use Abraj Kudai hotel complex will house 12 towers, a shopping mall, a convention center and restaurants and lounges. There are even helipads for those guests arriving in style, and five floors of each tower will be reserved for the Saudi royal family and other VIP guests.” http://huff.to/1J8rGtp

3. TOKYO DOESN’T WANT TO PAY FOR OLYMPIC STADIUM: The mayor of Tokyo is opposing demands that the city help pay for a $1.4 billion stadium for the 2020 Summer Olympics, setting up a fight between national and local authorities. Bloomberg: “Japanese architects and conservationists have said the 80,000-seat stadium—designed by award-winning Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid—would be too big for its surroundings in an historic area of central Tokyo. Such opposition failed to prevent the demolition earlier this year of the stadium that served as the main venue for the 1964 Games.” http://bloom.bg/1ey6PEz

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  Exploring, Inc. has acquired Chisel 3D, an Atlanta-based company that designs, creates, and fabricates custom props, sculptures, logos, and other pieces for events, trade shows, and permanent installations.

Proof of the Pudding returned as the catering sponsor for the State Bank Kick-Off Party at the Greater Gwinnett Championship, a P.G.A. Champions Tour event. Track Seven Events designed the event, which had a “glow” theme.

AUSTIN:  The inaugural Austin NewCo—in which attendees visiting the offices of innovative companies rather than meet at one neutral venue—will take place Friday. Austin Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1KAe10j

BOSTON:  Dave & Buster’s Woburn is now open. The venue can host private events for 10 to 1,200 guests; it offers games, sports viewing, and specialty cocktails such as the “Ruby Red Mega Mojito.”

CHICAGO:  The Freehand Hotel & Hostel opens on June 1 in River North. The property offers private and shared rooms, the cocktail lounge Broken Shaker, and plenty of communal gathering spaces. Group bookings are available for parties of 10 or more.

LAS VEGAS:  Ovarian Cancer Research Fund has added Las Vegas to its annual Super Saturday lineup; the local version of the shopping event will bow September 18-20 at the Grand Canal Shoppes.

LOS ANGELES:  The Newport Beach Jazz Festival is Friday-Sunday at Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. Performers include Boney James, Patti Austin, and Michael Lington with Taylor Dayne.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Team Tomorrow Inc.’s third annual “Today I Can” Mother’s Day event took place on May 20 at the 1 Hotel in Miami Beach. Jackie Ohh Events designed the event, which had a “Glamchella” theme and included activities such as a flower crown station and a moonlight yoga session.

NEW YORK:  The North Brooklyn Pride Festival, a new gay pride celebration in Williamsburg, will take place June 20. DNAinfo: http://dnain.fo/1BpJDNA

Former Top Chef contestant Ron Duprat is the new executive chef at Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina. He will manage catering for meetings and events in addition to overseeing the resort's culinary outlets including its signature Gulf Coast Kitchen restaurant.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  SeaWorld Orlando will open a 200-foot-tall “hypercoaster” in summer 2016. Mako will reach 73 miles per hour along 4,760 feet of steel track and will be Orlando's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The Axiom Hotel will open in Union Square this fall. The hotel will have 152 rooms and a meeting space that can be divided into two areas known as “Hub 1” and “Hub 2.”

TORONTO:  The Toronto Pride celebration will take place June 19-28. Pussy Riot and Cyndi Lauper will be among the grand marshals for the parade on June 28.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will host a free summer concert featuring the U.S. Air Force Band's Max Impact on June 28 at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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